Trailer system for securing transport of finished automobiles

Abstract

An automobile securing system for securing an automobile inside a container of a truck includes a front bracing assembly coupled to a bottom wall of the container and configured to secure a front wheel of the automobile inside the container. The front bracing assembly includes a strap configured to wrap around the front wheel, a base block and a clamping block configured to be positioned in front of the front wheel and secure a portion of the strap therebetween, a front wheel brace configured to engage the front wheel and a side wall of the container and positioned to prevent forward movement of the automobile, and a front wheel side brace positioned to prevent lateral movement of the automobile.

1 . An automobile securing system for securing an automobile inside a container of a truck, the automobile securing system comprising:
 a front bracing assembly configured to couple to a bottom wall of the container, the front bracing assembly configured to secure a front wheel of the automobile inside the container, the front bracing assembly including:
 a strap configured to wrap around the front wheel; 
 a base block and a clamping block configured to be positioned in front of the front wheel and secure a portion of the strap therebetween; 
 a front wheel brace configured to engage the front wheel and a side wall of the container, the front wheel brace configured to be positioned to prevent forward movement of the automobile; and 
 a front wheel side brace configured to be positioned to prevent lateral movement of the automobile; and 
   a rear bracing assembly configured to couple to the bottom wall of the container, the rear bracing assembly configured to secure a rear wheel of the automobile inside the container, the rear bracing assembly including:
 a rear wheel brace configured to engage the rear wheel and the side wall of the container, the rear wheel brace configured to be positioned to prevent rearward movement of the automobile; 
 a rear wheel side brace configured to be positioned to prevent lateral movement of the automobile; 
 a backup cleat configured to engage a rear side of the rear wheel brace; and 
 a cross brace configured to couple the rear wheel brace, the rear wheel side brace, and the backup cleat together. 
   
     
     
         2 . The automobile securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the front wheel is a first front wheel and the front bracing assembly is a first front bracing assembly configured to secure the first front wheel, wherein the rear wheel is a first rear wheel and the rear bracing assembly is a first rear bracing assembly configured to secure the first rear wheel, and wherein the automobile securing system includes:
 a second front bracing assembly configured to secure a second front wheel of the automobile; and   a second rear bracing assembly configured to secure a second rear wheel of the automobile.   
     
     
         3 . The automobile securing system of  claim 2 , wherein the first front bracing assembly is laterally spaced from the second front bracing assembly by a lateral length of the automobile extending between an outside edge of the first front wheel and an outside edge of the second front wheel, and wherein the first rear bracing assembly is laterally spaced from the second rear bracing assembly by a lateral length of the automobile extending between an outside edge of the first rear wheel and an outside edge of the second rear wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The automobile securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the base block, the clamping block, and the portion of the strap secured therebetween are configured to be positioned to align with a center of the front wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The automobile securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the strap secured between the base block and the clamping block is a first portion of the strap, and wherein the front wheel brace is configured to be positioned on top of a second portion of the strap. 
     
     
         6 . The automobile securing system of  claim 5 , wherein the base block is configured to be positioned on top of the second portion of the strap. 
     
     
         7 . The automobile securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the front wheel brace is configured to be positioned to engage a front side of the front wheel to prevent forward movement of the automobile. 
     
     
         8 . The automobile securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the rear wheel brace is configured to be positioned to engage a rear side of the rear wheel to prevent rearward movement of the automobile. 
     
     
         9 . The automobile securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the front wheel brace is configured to be positioned to contact a rear end of the base block. 
     
     
         10 . The automobile securing system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the front wheel brace and the rear wheel brace have a beveled surface configured to engage the front wheel or the rear wheel, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The automobile securing system of  claim 10 , wherein a surface of the front wheel side brace is configured to contact the front wheel brace and the surface matches the beveled surface of the front wheel brace. 
     
     
         12 . The automobile securing system of  claim 10 , wherein a surface of the rear wheel side brace is configured to contact the rear wheel brace and the surface matches the beveled surface of the rear wheel brace. 
     
     
         13 . The automobile securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the front bracing assembly is longitudinally spaced from the rear bracing assembly by a longitudinal length of the automobile between a front edge of the front wheel and a rear edge of the rear wheel. 
     
     
         14 . A method for securing a finished automobile inside a container being transported by a truck, the method comprising:
 providing a set of front bracing assemblies including straps, base blocks, front wheel braces, clamping blocks, and front wheel side braces;   providing a set of rear bracing assemblies including rear wheel braces, rear wheel side braces, backup cleats, and cross braces;   laying the straps longitudinally along a bottom wall of the container such that the straps are laterally spaced a distance apart based on a wheel track of the finished automobile;   placing the base blocks on top of the straps;   placing the front wheel braces laterally across the straps, the front wheel braces engaging rear ends of the base blocks and side walls of the container;   loading the finished automobile into the container such that front wheels of the finished automobile engage with the front wheel braces;   wrapping free ends of the straps around an outer circumference of the front wheels with the free ends of the straps extending at least partially along upper surfaces of the base blocks;   placing the clamping blocks on top of the free ends of the straps to secure the straps between the base blocks and the clamping blocks;   placing the front wheel side braces along an outside surface of the front wheels;   placing the rear wheel braces laterally behind rear wheels of the finished automobile, the rear wheel braces engaging the rear wheels and the side walls of the container;   placing the rear wheel side braces along an outside surface of the rear wheels forward of and in engagement with front sides of the rear wheel braces;   placing the backup cleats rearward of and in engagement with rear sides of the rear wheel braces; and   coupling the rear wheel braces, the rear wheel side braces, and the backup cleats together using the cross braces.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the base blocks, the clamping blocks, and portions of the straps secured therebetween are configured to be positioned to align with centers of the front wheels. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the front wheel brace and the rear wheel brace have a beveled surface configured to engage the front wheel or the rear wheel, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a surface of the front wheel side brace is configured to contact the front wheel brace and the surface matches the beveled surface of the front wheel brace. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a surface of the rear wheel side brace is configured to contact the rear wheel brace and the surface matches the beveled surface of the rear wheel brace. 
     
     
         19 . An automobile securing system for securing an automobile inside a container of a truck, the automobile securing system comprising:
 a plurality of front bracing assemblies configured to couple to a bottom wall of the container, the plurality of front bracing assemblies configured to secure front wheels of the automobile inside the container, each of the plurality of front bracing assemblies including:
 a strap configured to wrap around a respective front wheel of the front wheels, the strap including a first portion and a second portion; 
 a base block and a clamping block configured to be positioned in front of the respective front wheel and secure the first portion of the strap therebetween, the base block configured to be positioned on top of the second portion of the strap; and 
 a front wheel brace configured to engage the respective front wheel, the front wheel brace configured to be positioned (i) to prevent forward movement of the automobile and (ii) on top of the second portion of the strap; and 
   a plurality of rear bracing assemblies configured to couple to the bottom wall of the container, the plurality of rear bracing assemblies configured to secure rear wheels of the automobile inside the container, each of the plurality of rear bracing assemblies including:
 a rear wheel brace configured to engage a respective rear wheel of the rear wheels, the rear wheel brace configured to be positioned to prevent rearward movement of the automobile; 
 a backup cleat configured to engage a rear side of the respective rear wheel brace; and 
 a cross brace configured to couple the rear wheel brace and the backup cleat together. 
   
     
     
         20 . The automobile securing system of  claim 19 , at least one of the front wheel brace or the rear wheel brace is configured to engage a sidewall of the container.